Thursday, September 10, 2009

Newspaper Leaves

Autumn is in the air in our home... I pulled out the fall decorations and have started to sprinkle them throughout the house...I love the time of year that we are coming into. One of my favorite and most simple decorations are these newspaper rubbed leaves. I save them from year to year and they make me smile each time I bring them back out of the box. We made a few yesterday from leaves that we collected on our walk home from school.

Here is what you will need to do the same...

Leaves freshly fallen from a tree, not dry or brittle, in various sizes.

Newspaper

Crayons in Autumnal colors

Scissors

Twine or ribbon, if you would like to string the leaves

Tape or adhesive if you would like to display the leaves in a window.

( They are beautiful with light shining through them.)

Here is what you will need to do to create some leaves of your own...

Place leaf on a flat, dry surface. Cover the entire leaf with a piece of newspaper. Use crayons to gently rub over the entire leaf until the shape of the leaf emerges through the newspaper. Use coordinating crayons to highlight and define the shape of the leaf. Cut out and hang for display. Sit back and enjoy!

I just love it when someone makes something fabulous out of ordinary items. This is terrific - so simple & yet I would have never thought of it. You did a great job. I'll be following & watching for new ideas...Tracy

Hello! i am thrilled that you all love these little leaves as much as I do! Barbara Jean- These leaves were made with plain old newspaper, no stiffening involved! I am so excited thinking of these beauties in all of your homes! Enjoy!

I live in the desert after 25 years of living in upstate NY and am really missing the fall colors. I'm going to attempt to make some leaves from newspaper without the real-leaf template. Thanks for the inspiration!

Corey- These little leaves are rustling around ;) Love it!!! Just wanted to share that I just used this as a craft for our Brownie troopcraft, at our most recent meeting, the girls loved them. I'll be makin' some more today with the kids. Thanks for the inspiration!!